Another Ode. . .

Ode to Eating
©2010 Paula Tohline Calhoun

When did the joy of eating
become a sinful passion -
and our senses take a beating
from being slaves to fashion?
The richness of a frosted cake
the salty crunch of chips
are given up, and in their wake
leave rock-hard abs, and bony hips.
Which in and of themselves are good
being slim is no disgrace -
but surely tasting, savoring food
still has its rightful place!
Sweet aromas in the air,
fresh bread with honey dripping,
a newly ripened peach or pear
and dry white wine for sipping.
Can we without a sense of guilt
enjoy in moderation
the pleasures of our stomachs filled
and voice appreciation
for meals by loving hands prepared
and laughter 'round the table shared?
          Here's to the wonderful sense of taste
          I will not have it go to waste,
          or foolishly give up its pleasure
          for the sake of a smaller waist to measure!

Enjoy, with thanksgiving, the pleasures of taste - and remember that moderation is a virtue.  It is a good thing to know when enough is enough. . .

How do you pronounce English words? And NO, the answer is not. . .

ngglsh wɜːdz! English is a tough language - or so I've heard - I can't comment on that as I have been speaking it since I was a child. I progressed rather rapidly through the "WAAAAAHHH!!!" stage to better words including above all: "Feed me!" I got better and faster results that way. Up to that point I had wondered why on earth people would change my diaper when all I wanted to do was eat! I kept saying (so I thought) "The OTHER end, you dopes!" Live and learn.

Recently, a blogger friend of "My Literary Quest" fame (see link on right of this page) published a portion of a poem I remember reading when I was in grade school or thereabouts. Here is the link to that wonderful post. Read and enjoy!

So! Get the idea? (Try reading that poem aloud! - and I still have an argument going over whether query and inquiry rhyme. I say NO, and most others say YES! I think I'm right! My blog, my prerogative.) It must be a mind-boggling task to learn such variety and to know when certain rules apply and when they don't. I'm still getting some of those rules straight - particularly when it comes to the ones I have forgotten over the years. It's one of the reasons why I always have a hard-bound copy of a dictionary close at hand, or go to one of the various free dictionary sites online. As a comment on the above post, I posed a quiz. Many of you have seen it before, but if not, can you guess the pronunciation of the following common English words?

GHOTI? OK, that's an easy one (perhaps.) How about GHOUGHPTEIGHBTEAU?

Use all the pronunciation rules you can think of and figure them out. Anybody who doesn't, can comment and I'll send the answers - or maybe I won't! I may someday post them on my blog - you'll just have to read it occasionally to find out!

Until then I close with my hope for you all - that your education has been adequate and that you use good English enough. . .

OK, OK, I'll give you a hint to one of them:

For the Beauty of the Earth

Gracious, goodness me!!!!  Another post, and so soon!  Before you know it, I'll be posting 10 or 20 a day!  (Shudder, shudder)...I tremble in awe of nrhatch and theonlycin, who seem to be able to do multiple posts so effortlessly!  Since my typing is limited, I wanted to share with you some random photographs taken this year around our house here in the mountains of North Carolina.


In the presence of such creation, I am in total awe of God's mysterious wondrous variety!  How blessed we are to witness all this beauty - created for God's own pleasure, which God has so wonderfully shared with us.  I ask that wisdom be granted to all, that we might tend it carefully, to keep it safeguarded from our own foolishness.  How much we have lost because of our own wanton destruction!  How much remains for which we are to show our faithful stewardship?  It's up to us all...enjoy the beauty of the earth!

Here is some of  my recent photos- it is a song of praise to the Creator.

Love those antennae and feet!

Smok(e)y Mountain "smoke" - and I prefer putting the "e" in Smokey, though sometimes I bow to convention.

Near sunset, after a rain.

These guys (and mates) are incredibly prolific!  I've seen hundreds throughout this summer.

They seldom share one of these blossoms. . .

Reflection of the sunrise in our gazing ball.  A spider was busy overnight.

No, I am NOT a lawn ornament!  I'm a Canada Goose (and don't call me "Canadian!"  Never even been there!)

He obviously knows his complementary colors!

Chirrrr - rip!

On these blossoms, they will often share - especially if they are different species.

If you can enlarge this photo, you will see the sticky "sap" that they exude from the ends of their feet.  Keeps them stable, I guess!

Is this where Sikorsky got his idea?

For those of you wondering what some of those insects are:  The black and yellow fuzzy beast is a "Hummingbird Moth."  I had never seen one before this year, and was fascinated by the incredible CONSTANT rapid flapping.  Only a couple of the photos show his wings as more than a blur.  I love the one with the "helicopter effect" of his wings, seen from above!  Also the orange/black butterfly is an "Aphrodite Fritillary," the black/blue is an "Indigo Swallowtail," the black/white moth is called a "Neighbor Moth," and flies around in day and night - unusual for most moths.  BTW, the Hummingbird Moth is also diurnal.  Most of you will recognize the "Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail."  The white/light blue butterfly is a "Summer Azure."  Can any of you find the grasshopper in the grass in one of the photos? The black/orange/white-spotted butterfly is the Silver Spotted Skipper."

Sunset. . .

Sunrise

Hey!  You up front!  Are you sure we're going in the right direction?

The flowers which most of the butterflies are on are our aptly named "Butterfly Bush," and the large hot pink blossom is our Hibiscus - some of its blossoms are more than 8" across, which is not unusual.  The farther south you go, the bigger the blossom!  Hope you enjoy!

Until next time - enough. . .

And now, for today's ode. . .

Once again I resort to my less than off-the-cuff writing.  Due to one-handedness, I'm posting some of my Odes to the Everyday.  Until my one-handedness improves, I will be doing the simpler stuff, like "Copy and Paste," instead of stream-of-consciousness writing.  Do I hear sighs of relief, or some heartfelt "Awwww's?"  Anyway, as this is a gardening and reaping time of year, I present to you my. . .


Ode to My Black Thumb

Whenever I take a morning walk
On a bright and sunny day
I usually take the time to talk
to my plants along the way.
I speak with gentle tone, for
They're dying from neglect
There's much I must atone for-
They've lacked for my respect.
For though each seed was planted
With all my best intent
It seems I took for granted
That they would be content
To grow, without a second thought
from me to fill their needs
and do the daily things I ought:
Adding water and pulling weeds.
The day of reckoning is here
I bow my head in shame
Before the ones I held so dear
And to each gave a name.
Of these withered leaves I ask:
Forgive, please, my mistake!
No more will I take on a task
That needs a hoe or rake.
Vowing this, my slate is clean -
My floral sins forgiven.
And so, to keep my garden green
To this idea I'm driven:
(And pardon me if this sounds sarcastic) -
From here on in, I'm buying plastic!

So, with my UNusual brevity, I conclude, wishing you all enough. . .